51
C—3
vat, sumps, &c. The motive-power for the mill is supplied from a 30-horse-power horizontal steam-engine with steel tubular boiler. The mill was run about two weeks during the year. At the time the property was held by the former owners 45 tons of quartz was treated, and, together with 100 tons of tailings, yielded 82 oz. of bullion. Since the property was acquired by the present company development only has been carried on, no ore being treated. Up to the 31st December last five men were employed ; since that time twelve men. Invicta Mine (Area, 18 acres). —A considerable amount of prospecting work has been done on the surface portion of the mine by driving cross-cuts. In the workings on the main reef, which varies from 3 in. to 3 ft., 37 tons of quartz was taken out and crushed, for a yield of 190 oz. 2 dwt. of gold; value, £370 9s. lOd. Three men were employed. Juno Mine (Area, 28 acres). —A low level has been driven at a depth of 160 ft. below the surface workings. A rise was put up on the reef for a distance of 35 ft. The reef is from 6 in. to 2 ft. 6 in. in thickness. 22-| tons of quartz crushed yielded 87 oz. of gold. Five men were employed. Gladys Mine (Area, 29 acres 2 roods). —This mine is adjacent to the Irene, to the westward. A considerable amount of driving has been done on the land, and several reefs cut, No. 1 reef being about 2 ft. in thickness. Mr. John Goldsworthy, jun., the mine-manager, gives the following description of the workings : — Three levels are opened. Depths from the surface : No. 1 level, 60 ft.; No. 2, 100 ft.; No. 3, 90 ft. There are two well-defined reefs traversing the ground, besides other smaller leaders. The No. 1 reef varies in size from Ift. to 2 ft. (course, about north and south), is a well-defined lode, carries a little gold throughout, and is in a good class of country. The No. 2 reef, near the eastern boundary, is also a well-defined reef from 2ft. to 3ft. through; course, about north and south. The ore from both these reefs is clean free-milling ore. The mine has been developed by means of tunnels, winzes, &c. On the eastern side of the ground, near the Irene boundary, a tunnel has been driven through the hill a distance of over 500 ft. From the centre of this tunnel we have driven south a distance of 170 ft. on a leader, and have also put up a rise at the end of this drive to the surface, a distance of 70 ft. On the No. 2 reef we have sunk a winze to water-level, a distance of 25 ft. On the western side of the ground, near the Juno boundary, we have driven in No. 1 level (north and south on No. 1 reef) a distance of 140 ft., and from this level have sunk a winze a distance of 60 ft. We are now driving a lower level to intersect this reef, which will give us over 100 ft. of backs, and will connect with the winze above mentioned. The assay-value of this ore is £2 per ton. Besides these workings, we have done a considerable amount of prospecting by means of trenches, surface drives, &c, and have cut several smaller leaders, from which a little gold can be got by dish-testing. The average number of wages-men employed for the year is four. Handsworth Mine (Area, 5 acres 2 roods). —This mine is situated to the northward of the Irene. The reef which has been worked on was cut in a tunnel driven a few feet above the level of the flat. A parcel of 35 tons of quartz was crushed at the Thames, for a return of 94 oz. of gold. Three men were employed. A considerable amount of prospecting has been done in the following claims, and quartz reefs discovered, but beyond a few colours by pounding and washing no further results have been reported to me : Midas, Ajax, Golden King, Great United, Balfour, Mount Aurum, Alpine Fluke, Diadem, Phoenix, National, Aurora, Golden Link, Norena, Empire, Brilliant, Antelope, Heather Bell, and Vulcan. Aorere Mine (Area, 100 acres). —A considerable amount of driving has been done on the reef, from which the tributers obtained gold to the value of £129 Bs. 9d. in the previous year. No quartz has been crushed during the year. Four men were employed. Lincoln Mine (Area, 126 acres). —A considerable extent of driving was done near the surface, and several reefs cut, which are said to give prospects of gold by mortar tests. The surface level was driven through blue clay, and when the supposed reef was met with it did not reach the bottom of the drive, but formed a roof for 40 ft. It is highly probable that this mass of quartz is the result of thermal action ; hence the soft clay underneath the surface deposit. Three men were employed. Kuaotunu Mine (Area, 100 acres). —A prospecting tunnel has been driven 540 ft., and a number of small stringers cut, but no large reef was met with. Four men were employed. Maori Dream Mine (Area, 100 acres). —The chief work during the year has been in opening up the mine. Three levels are now open, two of which will give 200 ft. of backs on the reef, which varies from Ift. to 19 ft. in thickness. The lowest level will also give 369 ft. of backs on the reef. Upwards of 600 ft. was driven on reefs, and the manager, Mr. A. H. Richards, informs me that the prospects of the mine are excellent, and that good returns will be obtained as soon as the proposed machinery for treatment of the quartz is erected. Eight men were employed. Maoriland Mine (Area, 100 acres). —This mine is now owned by the Maoriland Gold-mines (Limited), of London. The chief work carried on was in development of the No. 1 reef, varying from 6 in. to 5 ft. ; No. 2 reef, 18 in.; and No. 3 reef, 5 ft. in thickness. The adit-level tunnel, when driven in 600 ft., will give from 400 ft. to 500 ft. of backs on the reefs, and the depth from this tunnel to sea-level is 85 ft. Five men were employed. Carnage Mine (Area, 100 acres). —Three reefs of 4ft. in thickness each and one reef 7 ft. in thickness have been discovered, and about 250 ft. of driving was done. The quartz does not appear to be of great value. A parcel of 2 tons crushed at the Thames School of Mines yielded 9 d.wt. 14 gr. of gold. Four men were employed. Prospect Mine (Area, 100 acres). —The work carried on during the year was sinking a winze on the reef from No. 1 level and extending the No. 2 level 120 ft. This is now within 60 ft. of the bottom of the winze. A network of quartz veins, varying from lin. to 7 ft., has been cut in the eastern cross-cut, one of which, about 18 in. thick, consisting of rubbly quartz, prospects fairly well. Six men were employed. B—C. 3.
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.